Franklin Repository

With sublime impudence the Democratic Press has undertaken to patronize President Johnson. They have suddenly discovered that he was formerly a Democrat--that it is but a short time since he abjured the old faith, and that from the length of his associations with the Democratic party he must still have a leaning towards it. He is duly credited with all the Jacksonian attributes, and is cooly informed that if he will allow the Democratic party to control his policy he may hope to attain as high a position in the Democratic calendar of saints as Jackson himself. With a pleasing assurance the policy which will be about the correct thing to please these new and faithful friends is mapped out for him so that there may be no mistake. He has only to reject the radical men of the party he now acts with--otherwise the men who throughout the war for the Union have been most unwavering in their support of the government and in their devotion to the great principles, the full and energetic development of which made the war a success. He has only to repudiate the solemn pledge he made at Baltimore, to support the platform in which these same great principles are embodied. He has only to pursue a policy of reconstruction as will bring back to power in the South the same men who denounced, proscribed, and drove him from his home for his adherence to his country and his flag. The men who for four long and sorrowful years have battled against both--who now are only converts to the right, not by conviction, but by force of arms. In the North he is only required to take into his confidence the men who denounced him throughout the war as a demagogue, boorish tailor and renegade Democrat; who sneered at him as traitor to his section, and ascribes the most debased motives as the cause of his fidelity to the government. Finally, he is expected to take such measures as will restore Slavery--that gigantic crime against God and man--and with it the Democratic party as it stood at the beginning of the rebellion. When he shall have accomplished all this he will be again worthy to be received into the communion of the Democratic fold. He will then have Tylerized the Republican party.

But if Mr. Johnson, as insisted on, is a second Jackson, then it would seem unfortunate for these newly galvanized friends. One of the strongest characteristics of Jackson was that he never forgot his friends nor forgave his enemies. If this trait is predominant with Johnson, what must he think of those who have spared no abuse of him while a fugitive from home during the terrible years of our civil struggle, and who are more than suspected of being strongly in sympathy with men who would have included him in the assassination of the late President. Our estimate of the character of President Jackson is a high one. We believe him to have been an honorable, honest and truly patriotic man, such a man indeed as would, if he had survived to these days, been found with President Johnson in opposition to the present miscalled Democratic party. Secession with him would have found no more sympathy or favor than did Nullification. Believing this, and believing as is alleged, that Mr. Johnson possesses the firmness and patriotism of Jackson, we never expect to see him desert the path he marked out for himself, four years ago in opposition to what seemed for him, every consideration of interest and policy, all the blandishments of the Democratic party to the contrary notwithstanding. And so far from present indications these blandishments do not appear to have had much effect upon him.

In all his public utterances he has persistently recorded his determination to deal with traitors and treason according to the law, granting them no more latitude nor no more mercy than the extreme letter of the law allows. In all his public acts he has adopted the same course. By a recent Executive order he has declared null and void all acts, proceedings and contracts of the rebel government of Virginia, Confederate and State, since the day the ordinance of secession was passed on the 17th of April, 1861, to the present time. He has refused to recognize the disinterested patriotism of the men who were bold and insolent rebels until after Richmond surrendered and the armies of Lee and Johnston were captured, and who then magnanimously offered to call the rebel Governor back to Richmond and reorganize the rebel State government. Instead he has given his confidence to that little band of loyal men who had shown themselves faithful among the faithless, who during the gloomiest period of the war assembled at Alexandria, organized a government and elected Francis H. Pierpont Governor. By the order above referred to, Governor Pierpont now assumes control of all of old Virginia not included in the state of West Virginia. He is a man, who like the President himself, has been tried by the fire of persecution, who by a common sympathy will recognize men who have come through the same trials, and from them will form a State government truly loyal. Yet President Johnson refuses to coincide with his new Democratic advisors whose opinions are on record, that both the Pierpont government, and the government of the new State of West Virginia are unconstitutional. In North Carolina and other states, President Johnson will probably appoint provisional Governors from the really loyal men, until such times as the States are ready to adopt new constitutions abolishing slavery and repudiating the heresy of secession.

In view of all that President Johnson has suffered, done and is still doing, there seems little room for the Democratic party to hope to make a convert of him, and until we see more indication of it than at present, we shall rest perfectly easy.